Branson, MO (April 11, 2017) – The City of Branson invites the public to join Mayor Karen Best at the Monarch Butterfly Garden Dedication on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 11:00AM at the Branson Recycle Center, 601 Compton Drive across from the Branson Community Center.

A free butterfly milkweed plant will be available to those citizens who attend the ceremony, provided as a courtesy by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Monarch butterfly populations have declined by 90% in the past two decades, and what used to be an annual migration of billions of butterflies through Branson dwindled to almost nothing in 2016. City of Branson Mayor Karen Best took the initiative to sign the “Mayors Monarch Pledge,” committing the City of Branson to 10 action items to help mitigate the Monarch population decline. Milkweed is an essential part of the successful migration, and is the ONLY plant on which a Monarch butterfly can lay its eggs, and we are grateful for more than 500 milkweed plants that have been provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for the Branson region.

More than 260 Mayors have signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, following a challenge from St. Louis Mayor James Slay, who signed the first Monarch pledge in 2014 and challenged other Midwest Mayors to take action to save the Monarchs from extinction.

Among the Mayor’s 10 action items, milkweed has been added to landscapes and gardens at the Branson Convention Center, Branson City Hall, Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area, walking trails in Stockstill Park, Branson Fire Stations 2 & 3, Branson Campground and the Branson Recycle Center. Private sector businesses have also contributed to the effort including The Village of Indian Point, Bass Pro Shops at Branson Landing, the Butterfly Palace, Dewey Short Visitors Center, and Showboat Branson Belle.

A drawing will be held for butterfly-themed prizes at the April 15th dedication ceremony including a “Monarch Garden in a Box” courtesy of Cedarbrook Garden Center in Notch, MO. Mayor Karen Best will add milkweed plants to the unique monarch butterfly demonstration garden during the dedication. Additional plants will be available for purchase from local vendors, and every Friday at Wild Birds Unlimited from Easter weekend through May 26th. Those businesses offering Monarch-friendly plants for sale include Cedarbrook Gardens in Notch, The Flower Farm at the Yacht Club in Hollister, Smiling Sun Gardens in Forsyth, Wild Birds Unlimited-Branson (Fridays only), Sunnyhills Garden Center in Kirbyville, and Wickman Gardens in Springfield.

A free “Monarch Mingle” seminar will also be hosted on Earth Day at Wild Birds Unlimited, Saturday, April 22nd at 1:00PM. The presentation will provide tips for creating and maintaining habitat for the Monarch butterflies as they fly over the Branson/Tri-Lakes area each spring and fall.

We invite the community to get involved in the effort to provide the life-giving plants needed by the Monarch butterfly. If you already have a butterfly garden, you may register it on the City of Branson online map at: www.bransonmo.gov/592/Mayors-Milkweed-for-Monarchs.

Questions related to the ‘Mayors for Monarchs’ project may be directed to Environmental Specialist Mona Menezes in the City of Branson Engineering Department at 417.337.8566 or via email at: mmenezes@bransonmo.gov. “LIKE US” on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/envirobranson.

Media inquiries related to this content may be directed to Jennifer Langford, Communications Manager, City of Branson at JLangford@BransonMO.govor by calling 417.337.0017.

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About the City of Branson, Missouri: Located in Southwest Missouri, the City of Branson is committed to its citizens and to those who visit here, to ensure a safe and environmentally sound community. We will work as a team to maintain and promote the growth of our City, and to provide professional, courteous service to all through fair and open communication. We look to tomorrow, remembering yesterday, dedicated to excellence today.